New York Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson, the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year this past season, roomed with Michael Sam at Missouri in 2012, telling New York Newsday he knew about Sam's sexual orientation and it was of no consequence.

"I lived with Michael Sam, regular guy, has his own sexuality. With me living with him, it was a little unusual at first, but it's stuff you look past," Richardson told Newsday in his first comments on Sam, who publicly acknowledged on Sunday that he is gay. "It wasn't anything unusual. He was my guy, my home boy."

Sam stands to be the first openly gay NFL player if he makes a team, and Richardson told SNY that Sam would be a fine teammate and help any NFL team he joins.